In a mind-boggling display of skill and gumption, stunt driver Logan Holladay has smashed the Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls performed in a car. Holladay, who doubles for Oscar-nominated Ryan Gosling in the new comedy actioner The Fall Guy, pulled off an astonishing eight-and-a-half rolls on the sandy shores of Sydney, Australia, while filming last year.
This gravity-defying feat bettered the previous record of seven rolls set by Adam Kirley in 2006 for Casino Royale. Cannon rolls involve cars being fitted with cannon-like devices pointed towards the ground which, when fired, send them into a rapid series of rolls. Holladay accomplished this feat in a modified Jeep Grand Cherokee fitted with an external fiberglass body.
Many of you will recall the theme tune to the original ’80s TV series the film is inspired by which quipped, “I might fall from a tall building, I might roll a brand new car. ‘Cause I’m the unknown stuntman that made Redford such a star.” Well this new take on the original series, featuring big names like Gosling, Emily Blunt, Hannah Waddingham and director David Leitch (Deadpool 2), leans into that notion and pays tribute to Hollywood’s unsung heroes – the stunt community. Leitch felt the cannon rolls were an essential throwback. “We wanted to deliver action that was true to the spirit of the stunt community by incorporating techniques that had become somewhat of a lost art,” he said.
By taking the stunt to new heights, Holladay and the team honoured that daredevil spirit. Leitch commented, “We didn’t just set out to achieve the cannon roll; we set out to break records and make a statement. Logan executed it flawlessly and showcased why he’s a standout in the stunt community.”
From a screenplay by Hobbs & Shaw screenwriter Drew Pearce, The Fall Guy is produced by Kelly McCormick (Bullet Train, Nobody, Atomic Blonde) and David Leitch for their 87North banner, and by Ryan Gosling and by Guymon Casady (“Game of Thrones,” Steve Jobs and executive producer of the upcoming series “Ripley”) for Entertainment 360. The film is executive produced by Drew Pearce, Entertainment 360’s Geoff Shaevitz and the creator of the original “Fall Guy” television series, Glen A. Larson.
So, without further ado, we’ll leave you with the latest behind-the-scenes featurette video from Universal Pictures showing how the amazing stunt community went way beyond the call of duty once again for The Fall Guy which releases exclusively in cinemas this May 2.
